| Biomass boilers have been around for centuries, | | | | warming and climate change. When fossil fuels are |
| mainly as wood burning stoves. Now they pack a | | | | burned (e.g. natural gas in your domestic boiler), |
| new punch as a carbon neutral way of generating | | | | they release CO2 as part of their natural chemical |
| heat, helping reduce the amount of harmful | | | | reaction. This gas was captured within the fuel for |
| carbon emissions. | | | | millions of years in underground deposits. By |
| In the last few years it became impossible to get | | | | burning it now, we release this gas into the |
| away from the hype about green technologies | | | | atmosphere. Biomass boilers are considered to be |
| versus fossil fuel technologies. Solar panels, solar | | | | carbon neutral heating technologies, because they |
| thermal and wind turbines have ruled the headlines | | | | only release CO2 that was captured by the plant |
| with major projects undertaken around the world. | | | | during its growth years, thus not bringing new |
| However, let us not forget the humble wood | | | | CO2 into the global equation. |
| burning stove. Although not as flashy as a | | | | Before installing a biomass boiler it important to |
| gleaming white wind turbine rotating at a steady | | | | consider a few aspects of this technology: |
| speed over a green hill or a high-tech solar | | | | * Wood supplier - it is much easier to run a |
| photovoltaic cell generating electricity out of simple | | | | biomass boiler if you have a local sawmill or |
| sun light, the wood burning stove has some | | | | carpentry workshop that can provide you with a |
| important benefits to bring to the table. | | | | reliable source of sawdust, wood chips or even |
| In order to fairly evaluate biomass boilers, it is | | | | wood pallets. |
| important to explain how they work. Biomass | | | | * Space consideration - unlike modern gas and oil |
| boilers burn wood, which is an organic fuel (hence | | | | boilers, a biomass boiler is larger in size and |
| the bio-fuel label), rather than fossil fuels that | | | | requires a large area nearby to store the wood. It |
| come from the ground (oil, gas, coal). The boilers | | | | is wise to plan for this space in advance. |
| burn untreated wood (such as logs, wood chips) | | | | * Chimney consideration - a biomass boiler |
| and treated wood (most common being wood | | | | requires a chimney, and more specifically a lined |
| pallets). | | | | chimney that is designed for wood fuel. However, |
| Wood pallets are the most efficient of the wood | | | | in most cases such lining can be retro-fitted to |
| fuel types. They are made from sawdust which is | | | | carry the smoke. |
| compressed at high pressure into small pallets | | | | * Smoke implications - some areas are designated |
| (roughly the size of AAA batteries). They are | | | | 'Smoke Free'. If you live in such are, you need to |
| made from by-products of local carpentries, | | | | find a unit that is exempted under the Clean Air |
| joinery workshops and sawmills. The high pressure | | | | Act. |
| compression removes moisture and increases | | | | * General considerations - check with your council |
| their output to weight ratio, meaning you need | | | | on other implications in reference to your boiler |
| less fuel to get the same amount of heat. | | | | installation. If you live in a conservation area or |
| Another benefit is that they don't leave as much | | | | your property is a listed building, you may have to |
| residue on the burner due to full burning reaction. | | | | clear this with the planning department at your |
| Fossil fuels are normally associated with global | | | | council. |